The President, committee and members would like to express their condolences to the family and friends of Jack Becker, who passed away last week. Jack was a stalwart and wonderful supporter of many organisations in Rosebery, his home town, and the West Coast generally. But Jack was also a regular fixture at PCCCT events for many years, completing over 300 runs after travelling each weekend from Rosebery. A quiet gentleman, he was much liked and very respected. Vale Jack.
Race Reports 2016
Michelle and Aileen win at Devonport Bluff
A solid summer of training has paid off for Miandetta runner Michelle D’Monte leading to a great win in the Professional Cross Country Club’s Simon Design Centre 5 kilometre Backmarkers Handicap at the Devonport Bluff on Sunday. D’Monte had been consistent so far this season and was thrilled to break through for her third victory with the club after a win at Wynyard last year and a maiden win in 2009.
As well as doing lots of running training, playing touch football has got D’Monte very fit. She started from a front mark, but took almost the whole race to rundown Paul Birch who was one of the go-markers for the race.
It was an exciting and very quick race, with many runners recording fast times over the flat four laps around Meercroft park. Fourteen runners averaged under 4 minutes per kilometre.
Another of the go-markers, Keegan Powell finished third. Brothers Ewan and Isaac Troughton were fourth and fifth, separated by the second woman, Judy Ray.
Sally Haynes was fastest woman with Thomas Murton proving quickest of the men.
In the Drift Restaurant Café 5 kilometre Frontmarkers Handicap, Aileen Powell ran well to achieve a deserved win. Powell had previously won at Don three years ago, but since then a persistent back problem has meant she hasn’t performed at her best. However, she has lowly recovered in recent months and she was able to take the lead early in the race and defy all attempts to run her down.
Kelly Baxter continued her consistent form for second and Anna Murton was third. Baxter was also the fastest woman. The fastest man was John Castledine.
Race 4 2016 FRONT MARKERS Fastest to Slowest
Race 4 2016 FRONT MARKERS Actual
Race Reports 2016
Robyn races away at Heybridge
Ulverstone runner, Robyn Locke, took full advantage of a chance to have a run with the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania with a comfortable win in the Glow Cosmetics 7 kilometre handicap at Heybridge on Sunday.
Locke, who couldn’t run at all last year due to having a baby, will only be able to have a handful of races this year as she can only do so when her parents come up from Hobart and are able to babysit her two young children.
Taking full advantage of her handicap, Locke raced away after taking the lead before the turn to win easily from two other female runners in Aileen Powell and Michelle D’Monte. In fact female runners filled the top five places.
Locke credited her form to training over summer by running with her two children in a running stroller, and to the fact the course had no hills.
A good field of 91 runners faced the starter at the Cuprona Football Club ground. The course took runners along streets and footpaths to the weighbridge at Howth and return.
Club veteran Eric Hughes and the youngster Keegan Powell both ran improved races to finish in the top ten, while one of the backmarkers, Brad Taylor, stormed through the field into 13th place indicating a win is not far away.
The fastest male was Thomas Murton in 22:50, while the fastest female was Sally Haynes in a slick 29:07.
Race Reports 2016
Michael Ward wins Cooee Dowling McCarthy 5km.
Sisters Beach runner, Michael Ward (pictured above with sons Bradley and Thomas) had his second success with the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania when he won the Dowling McCarthy Tyres 5 kilometre handicap at Cooee on Saturday.
Ward had previously won his very first start with the club, a 5 kilometre handicap at Wivenhoe, about 9 years ago so was thrilled to finally break through again and do it breaking the 4 minutes-per-kilometre barrier.
He won very comfortably, beating second placed Russell Horton by nearly a minute with Ken Troughton a promising third. In fourth place was the fastest male, Thomas Murton who ran a slick 16:58.
The race started at the Cooee Memorial Hall and took runners around the perimeter of the Burnie High School, along back streets and to the turn 400 metres up the Durham Road hill, then return.
Ward hit the lead about the 4 kilometre mark but said he felt confident at the turn. He has done a lot of running over the summer with The Coastal Running Club, usually pushing his youngest child in a pram.
Horton showed a win is not far away while young Tobin Mason and Paul Birch both finished comfortably in the top ten.
Fastest female was Judy Ray, finishing in ninth place.
Race Reports 2016
Great win for Symone in Race 1
The 2016 professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania season got underway on Sunday with race 1, the Burnie Sports Power 5 kilometre handicap, starting at West Beach, Burnie.
Warm and still conditions greeted the eighty-six starters as they made their way along the boardwalk to the rear of West Park and then along the walking path to Cooee and return.
The shorter, flatter courses usually suit the front markers and this proved to be the case on Sunday, Aileen Powell quickly took the lead from the go marker, John Lucas but with strong bunches working together she was eventually run down, although hanging on for an excellent fifth. Somerset runner Symone Denby off 4:10, took the lead about the four kilometre mark and ran away for a comfortable win.
This was Symone’s first win with the club and followed a year off which was forced on her by a run of niggling injuries. However, a strong summer of training, including regular runs with the Coastal Running Club, saw her back in great form once again. She gave herself a reasonable chance of success before the race but was still thrilled to cross the line first after about fifty starts with the club.
Father and son, Dwayne and Lachlan Barry finished close together in second and third. Michelle D’Monte, for whom a win must be very close finished fourth. She was fastest female in a time of 21:15.
The best of the backmarkers were Julian Lesek and Thomas Murton, in seventh and eighth respectively. Thomas won two races last year but this young gun has continued his improvement and will obviously be a force again this year. Thomas ran the fastest time of 16:05.
Further back, strong results were recorded by Brad Taylor (eleventh) and Bryan Tuit (thirteenth), while Ann Horton showed a win is not far away finishing in fourteenth.